COVID-19 IgG Detection by ELISA Antibody Test

You are being given this TestFact because your sample was tested using the National Jewish Health COVID-19 IgG Detection by ELISA Antibody Test.

This TestFact contains information to help you understand the risks and benefits of using this test for diagnosing prior infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. After reading this TestFact, if you have questions or would like to discuss the information provided, please talk with your health care provider.

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This virus, which can cause mild to severe respiratory illness, has spread globally, including to the United States. There is limited information available to fully describe the different types of clinical illness associated with COVID-19. This illness likely spreads to others when a person shows signs or symptoms of being sick (e.g., fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, etc.) or in the few days leading up to symptoms.

What is the COVID-19 IgG Detection by ELISA Antibody test?

The test is designed to detect antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins) against the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in response to an infection and are specific to that particular infection. They are found in the liquid part of blood specimens which is called serum or plasma, depending on the presence of clotting factors. Today your sample will be tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG).

This test detects IgG antibodies that develop in most patients within seven to 10 days after symptoms of COVID-19 begin. IgG antibodies remain in the blood after an infection has passed. These antibodies indicate that you may have had COVID-19 in the recent past and have developed antibodies that may protect you from future infection. It is unknown at this point how much protection antibodies might provide against another infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Why was my sample tested?

You were tested because:

your health care provider believes you may have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 based on your current or previous signs and symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, difficulty breathing);

you live in or have recently traveled to a place where transmission of COVID-19 is known to occur;

you have been in close contact with an individual suspected of or confirmed to have COVID-19; or

you have recovered from COVID-19.

Testing of the sample may help find out if you may have antibodies to COVID-19.

What are the known and potential risks and benefits of the test?

Potential risks include:

Possible discomfort, bruising, infection or other complications that can happen during sample collection. Serious complications are very rare.

Possible incorrect test result (see below for more information).

Potential benefits include:

The results, along with other information, can help your health care provider make informed recommendations about your care.

The results of this test may help limit the spread of COVID-19 to your family and others in your community.

What does it mean if I have a positive test result?

If you have a positive test result (antibodies are detected), you may have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 at some point in the past. There is still a chance that the antibodies indicate past infection due to other coronaviruses. These other coronaviruses cause the common cold. There is also a small chance that a positive result is incorrect (false positive).

The presence of IgG suggests that the infection happened weeks to months in the past. It also suggests that you may no longer be infectious. IgG indicates that you may have some immunity to the virus, though you may not. How much it might protect you from getting sick with COVID-19 in the future is unknown.

Your health care provider will work with you to determine how best to care for you based on the test results along with other factors of your medical history, including any previous symptoms, possible exposure to COVID-19 and the location of places you have recently traveled.

What does it mean if I have a negative test result?

A negative test result means that the antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 were not found in your sample. Some health conditions might make it difficult for your body to produce antibodies to an infection. However, it is possible for this test to give a negative result that is incorrect (false negative) in some people.

A negative result may occur if you are tested early in your illness and your body hasn’t had time to produce antibodies to infection. This means that you could possibly still have COVID-19 even though the test is negative. If this is the case, your health care provider will consider the test result together with all other aspects of your medical history (such as symptoms, possible exposures and geographical location of places you have recently traveled) in deciding how to care for you.

It is important that you work with your health care provider to help you understand the next steps you should take.

Is this test FDA-approved or cleared?

No. This test is not yet approved or cleared by the United States FDA. When there are no FDA-approved or cleared tests available, and other criteria are met, the FDA can make tests available under an emergency access mechanism called an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The EUA for this test is supported by the Secretary of Health and Human Service’s (HHS’s) declaration that circumstances exist to justify the emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for the detection and/or diagnosis of the virus that causes COVID-19.

This EUA will remain in effect (meaning this test can be used) for the duration of the COVID-19 declaration, justifying emergency use of in vitro diagnostic tests (IVDs), unless it is terminated or revoked by FDA (after which the test may no longer be used).

National Jewish Health researchers and clinicians developed and validated this test and submitted it for emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Where can I go for updates and more information?

The most up-to-date information on COVID-19 is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: https://www.cdc.gov/COVID19. In addition, please also contact your health care provider with any questions/concerns.

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SICK – You should not have antibody testing for COVID-19 at the National Jewish Health testing tent site because:

The outdoors site is for testing only, not treatment of sick individuals

You may not yet have started to make antibodies

Symptomatic individuals (regardless of physician referral) needing urgent medical evaluation or who are recovering from COVID-19 may also have this test drawn as part of their evaluation in COVID-19-related clinics. Please call National Jewish Health if you would like more information.

People who are sick should seek medical attention by calling their doctor. They may also call National Jewish Health to determine if they need to be seen in a clinic or emergency department, or qualify to have a test for active COVID-19 (i.e., a nasopharyngeal swab) at our outdoor testing site before returning home. People who are sick with COVID-19 or may have COVID-19 need to self-isolate themselves from others until recovered, according to the CDC guidelines. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html